Tue Oct 14 00:08:00 UTC 2025: **Summary of the Text:**
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Odisha, India, has conducted a census revealing a significantly high stray dog population of 47,126 within its city limits. This translates to 36 stray dogs per 1,000 humans, far exceeding the national average of 11. The census, conducted across all 67 wards, aimed to understand the stray dog distribution, gender ratio, and sterilization rates. The goal is to mitigate human-animal conflict, improve dog welfare, implement effective sterilization programs, reduce dog bites, and prevent rabies. The areas with the highest stray dog populations have been identified.
**News Article:**
**Bhubaneswar Grapples with High Stray Dog Population: Census Reveals Alarming Figures**
**Bhubaneswar, October 14, 2025:** A recent census conducted by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revealed a significant overpopulation of stray dogs in the capital city of Odisha. The census, covering all 67 wards, tallied 47,126 stray dogs, a staggering figure that equates to 36 dogs per 1,000 residents. This is more than three times the national average of 11 stray dogs per 1,000 people.
The two-phased enumeration, carried out in late September, involved 410 teams under the supervision of veterinary officers. Data indicates a male-to-female ratio of roughly 3:2 among the adult population, with a small number of puppies also recorded. While some progress has been made, only a fraction of the stray dog population has been sterilized.
“Bhubaneswar’s stray dog population accounts for 3.62% of the human population. On average, each ward has around 703 stray dogs,” BMC reports. The wards with the highest concentration of strays are Wards 23, 7, 49 and 65, with Ward 23 registering a concerning 1,703 dogs.
The BMC stated that the census is a crucial step towards addressing several key issues, including the reduction of human-animal conflict, improving the overall health and welfare of stray dogs, creating a more efficient sterilization program, preventing dog bite incidents, and protecting both the public and animals from deadly diseases like rabies.
The high stray dog population density is a significant challenge for Bhubaneswar, and the BMC plans to use the census data to implement targeted interventions aimed at addressing the root causes and mitigating the potential consequences of this growing issue.
First Piper 